Cabinet having swinging drawers



Oct. 21, 19.58 s. MANNE A 2,857,232 CABINET HAVING SWINGING DRAWERS Filed June 18, 1956 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 '/Z /2 b"'Mumnuu` I l lll l l[[wllllv L Il|1| Imm,I /6

Ulm-f/ i v 26 (5 (5% ....,..4 if 64 L. IWW-.

w 26 "WHIIIIHI da l 4 1% Z' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2l, 1958 s. MANNE 2,87232 CABINET HAVING SWINGING DRAwERs Filed June 18, 1956 l 5 Sheets sheet 2 42 (40 v I V x u2a .52aY

'will 32a 46 I 44 I 4a ,Z LLMHMHI.,

www

u zcllliif y WWU. M

I l 24. L57 l( I y 526 Hll .f90u

www aff IVENTOR.

fam/ey Man/7e BY f Arm@ n S. MANNE CABINET HAVING SWINGING DRAWERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 18, 195.6

IMullin.

wil

INVENTORL ATTON )4 CABINET HAVING SWINGING DRAWERS Stanley Manne, Overland Park, Kans.

Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 592,027

12 claims. (Cl. S12- 329) This invention relates to a swinging drawer cabinet and has for its primary object the provision of a novel arrangement of parts which includes the way in which the drawers are swingably mounted on a vertical post for not only presenting a pleasing and attractive appearance when the drawers are closed, but more particularly to seal the contents of the drawers against entrance of dust.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a swinging drawer cabinet wherein each drawer moves into relatively tight sealing engagement with specially formed dust seals when the same is closed, yet, by virtue of the hinge means that is provided therefor, all tendency to sticking, jamming or adverse interengagement between the drawers is eliminated during the swinging movement thereof.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide a cabinet having a stack of open-top drawers swingably mounted on a vertical post and including means for permitting such arrangement without incident weakness and instability by virtue of novel brace means intermediate the uppermost and lowermost end of the cabinet, as well as between the hinge post and other parts of the framework, top and bottom.

Other objects include important details of construction for attaining the primary objects above outlined, all of which will be made clear or become apparent as the following speciiication progresses.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of one form of cabinet having swinging drawers made pursuant to my present invention, parts being broken away and in' section for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on llne ll-ll of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line lil-III of Fig. 1 illustrating schematically the manner of opening one of the drawers.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional View taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction'.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary View showing the dust seals adjacent the hinge post partially broken away and in section for clearness.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on irregular line Vl-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an' enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational View showing the dust seal and stabilizer band arrangement at the hinge post intermediate the ends of the latter.

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a cabinet having swinging drawers made pursuant to a modified form of my present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the cabinet shown in Fig. 8, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially on line X-X of Fig. 8; and

Fig. l1 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational View ,a lCC of one of the drawers of the cabinet shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive adjacent the hinge point, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction.

The cabinet chosen for illustration of the principles of the instant invention in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive contemplates the provision of two side-by-side stacks 12 and 14 of preferably polygonal, open-top drawers 16, each having a front wall 18, a rear wall 20, an inner side wall 22 and an outer side wall 24, the walls 18 forming the front of the cabinet and the walls 24 forming the two ends of the cabinet when all of the drawers 16 are closed as illustrated, for example in Figs. 1 and 2.

As above indicated, the drawers 16 are all open at the top, but each is provided with a bottom 26 that may be attached to the walls 18, 20, 22 and 24 by mortising or otherwise in the conventional way and in this respect, the vertical walls of the drawers 16 may likewise be interconnected as desired.

The two stacks 12 and 14 are supported by framework which includes a vertical post 28 that may be tubular if desired as shown in Fig. 4, and additionally by standard 30 at the rearmost corners of the cabinet. A polygonal base 32 interconnects standards 30-30 and post 2S, and back panels 34 are mortised in the standards 30 as well as in a vertical supporting strip 36 and a horizontal support 38, the latter having a `top 40 attached thereto, top 40 also being secured to post 28 by ange 42.

The fronts 18 of the drawers 16 each extend inwardly beyond the inner side walls 22 and terminate in hinge tubes 44 that are telescoped on the post 28 and provided with bearing inserts 46. As seen in Fig. l, the tubes 44 of the drawers 16 in stack 12 are interleaved with respect to the tubes 44 of the drawers 16 in stack 14. The lowermost tube 44 of the drawers 16 in stack 14 is provided with cavities for receiving set collars 48 that are attached to the post 28 and the uppermost tube 44 of the drawers 16 in stack 12 is similarly provided with cavities for receiving set collars 50 attached to the post 28. Collars 48 and 50 serve, therefore, to limit Vertical reciprocation of the drawers 16 on the post 28 and thereby hold the drawers 16 in spaced-apart relationship.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottoms 26 are disposed in spaced relationship to the lowermost edges of the drawers 16 and the uppermost and lowermost peripheral edges of the drawers 16 are notched to mate with a plurality of dust seals 52 when the drawers 16 are closed. The polygonal dust seals 52 are preferably continuous and joined to the strip 36 as well as the standards 30 at the back of the cabinet. Thus, seals 52 are also joined to the post 28 in the manner illustrated best by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

A pair of U-shaped brackets 54 and 56 attached to lengths 52a of dust seals 52 by fasteners 58, are secured to the set collars 50 by the setscrews 60 of the latter at the bights of the U-shaped brackets 54 and 56. It is understood that the lengths 52a constitute those parts of the dust seals 52 which are in underlying engagement with the inner walls 22 of the drawers 16 when the latter are closed. The bracket 56k is provided with a semi-circular intermediate portion 62 that partially sulrounds the post 28 and extends downwardly between the post 28 and the collar 50 as shown in Fig. 6.

It is noted that the notches in the uppermost and lowermost peripheries of the drawers 16 form an overlap joint with the dust seals 52 when the drawers 16 are closed. Accordingly, the notches in the walls 20 and 22 face outwardly, whereas the notches in the walls 18 and 24 face inwardly, thereby permitting swinging movement of the drawers 16 to and from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

To the end further that clearance is provided to per- 3 mit such swinging movement of the drawers 16, the lowermost edges of walls and 22 are slightly higher than the lowermost edges of walls 18 and 24. Similarly, the uppermost edges of the walls 20 and 22 are slightly lower than the uppermost edges of the walls 18 and 24.

For purposes of rigidity, the framework which includes standards 30, strip 36 and post 28, is interconnected by a polygonal band 64 intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends of the cabinet, band 64 having a pair of drawers 16 thereabove and a pair of drawers 16 therebelow as seen in Figs. l, 2 and 4. If desired, the adjacent seals 52b and 52C may be integral with the band 64 and further, as shown in Fig. 2, the rearmost stretches of the seals 52 may be extended for attachment of the panels 34 thereto.

Band 64 is interlocked with the post 28 by a set collar 66 attached to the latter and recessed within the innermost edge of band 64, as seen in Fig. 4. The collar 66 presents additionally a means of attachment for an inclined brace 68 having the uppermost end thereof secured to top 40. A similar brace, not shown, may extend downwardly and rearwardly from the collar 66 if desired.

It is preferred however, to still further stabilize the cabinet by angle braces 70 coupled with the post 28 through a set collar 72 similar to collar 66 and recessed within a band 74 resting on base 32. Here again the lowermost seal 52e may be integral with the band 74 if desired.

The form of my invention shown in Figs. 8 to l1 inclusive contemplates the provision of but a single stack 112 of drawers 116, but the double effect may be provided by setting a pair of the cabinets of such modification in end-to-end relationship. The uppermost and lowermost peripheries of the drawers 116 overlap with dust seals 152 in the same manner as just above described with respect to the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 7 inclusive and such dust seals 152 are attached to vertical post 128 through structure (not shown) that is essentially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The hinge means for attaching the drawers 116 to the post 128 includes a bracket broadly designated by the numeral 144 that includes an L-shaped plate 145, the front leg whereof is covered by an extension on front wall 118 of drawers 116. The rearwardly extending leg of the L-shaped plate 145 has attached thereto a clamp 147 having hooks 149 at the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof that is interlocked with respect to side wall 122 of the drawer 116. The two legs of the plate 145 are joined by bearing plates 151 which journal the post 128 and if desired, a tube 153 telescoped on post 128, interconnects the two bearing plates 151. Set collars 148 and 150 attached to post 128 beneath and above plates 151 to hold the drawers 116 spaced-apart is seen in Figs. 8 and 9. In all other respects the single stack form of the invention is essentially the same as the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

It is seen that in each case the front walls of the drawers form the front of the cabinet and the outer ends of the drawers form one end of the cabinet. It is desirable however, as seen in Fig. 10, to provide a more pleasing appearance by the inclusion of an end wall 155 which presents a space for receiving the hinge means 144 and, of course, the post 128. In each case the particular hinge means provided, reduces to a minimum the sagging of the drawers when swung to an open condition notwithstanding the fact that the hinges are connected with the drawers at one outermost corner thereof.

No sagging will take place while the drawers are closed and, if desired, in order to assure proper seating of the peripheries of the drawers with the dust seals during closing, all without binding or sticking, the rearmost lengths of the seals and the corresponding rearmost edges of the rear walls of the drawers, may be slightly beveled transversely thereof.

Any suitable latch or catch, not shown, may be pro- 4 t vided if desired, but for the most part in each case the drawers 16 and 116 will stay closed without any need for a locking device.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A cabinet comprising in combination supporting framework including a front vertical post; a stack of vertically spaced, open top drawers each provided with a rectangular bottom wall and opposed inner and outer side and end walls, said drawers each having hinge means mounting the same for swinging movement about the vertical axis of said posts; and a plurality of rectangular, horizontal, vertically spaced dust seal rails carried by said framework one of said rails being disposed adjacent and normally engaging the upper peripheral edge of the uppermost of said drawers, another of said rails being disposed adjacent and normally engaging the lower peripheral edge of the lowermost of said drawers and the remaining rails being located between and normally engaging respective, proximal lower and upper peripheral edges of said drawers, each of said rails engaging the inner faces of said outer side and end walls and the outer faces of the inner side and end walls respectively, said inner side and end walls clearing the outer side and end wall engaging portions of the rails when the drawers are swung to an open position.

2. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge means include tubes telescoped on the post, and wherein is provided means rigidly secured to the post in supporting relationship to the tubes for holding said edges of the drawers in spaced relationship.

3. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided a top overlying the uppermost drawer when the latter is closed an inclined brace means interconnecting the top and said post intermediate the ends of the latter.

4. A cabinet as set forth in claim l wherein is provided a continuous band joining the framework intermediate the uppermost and lowermost ends of the cabinet and disposed between a pair of the drawers when the latter are closed.

5. A cabinet as set forth in claim 4 wherein is provided a top overlying the uppermost drawer when the latter is closed, an element secured to said post intermediate the ends thereof interlocking said band and the post, an inclined brace means interconnecting the top and said element.

6. A cabinet as set forth in claim l wherein said peripheral edges of the drawers are provided with notches receiving the dust seal rails and presenting overlap joints when the drawers are closed.

7. A cabinet comprising in combination supporting framework including `a front vertical post; two stacks of open top drawers each having hinge means mounting the same for swinging movement about the vertical axis of said posts; and dust seals carried by said framework and disposed for engagement by the uppermost and lowermost peripheral edges of the drawers when the latter are swung to a closed position relatively superimposed, said hinge means including tubes telescoped on the post, the tubes of each drawer of one stack being interleaved with the tubes of the corresponding drawer of the other stack.

8. A cabinet as set forth in claim 7 wherein is provided means rigidly secured to the post in overlying relationship and in supporting relationship to each pair of interleaved tubes for holding said edges in spaced relationship.

9. A cabinet as set forth in claim 8 wherein is provided means attaching the dust seals to said means supporting the tubes.

l0. A cabinet comprising in combination supporting framework including a front vertical post; a stack of open top drawers each having hinge means mounting the same for swinging movement about the vertical axis of said posts; and dust seals carried by said framework and disposed for engagement by the uppermost and lowermost peripheral edges of the drawers when the latter are swung to a closed position relatively superimposed, said hinge means each including a bracket secured to its corresponding drawer having a pair of spaced bearings telescoped on the posts and a tube between the bearings telescoped on the post.

11. A cabinet as set forth in claim 10 wherein is provided means rigidly secured to the post in overlying relationship and insupporting relationship to the bearings for holding said edges in spaced relationship.

12. A cabinet as set forth in claim 11 wherein is provided means attaching the dust seals to said means supporting the bearings.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

